Chef Ahn credits chefs for show’s success

Jan 22, 2026, 07:57 am

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Chef Ahn Sung-jae

Chef Ahn Sung-jae expressed gratitude to viewers, saying the popularity of Netflix’s hit cooking competition Culinary Class Wars stems from the charm and skills of its 100 participating chefs.

Speaking at the “Next on Netflix 2026 Korea” event held Tuesday morning at the Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, Ahn said Season 3 of Culinary Class Wars had also received strong support. “All 100 chefs who appeared were incredibly appealing, and they cooked exceptionally well,” he said.

“As a judge—and even from a viewer’s perspective—I felt there were so many impressive and entertaining elements,” Ahn added. “Thanks to all the love the show received, I’m filled with nothing but gratitude.” He noted that while tastes may differ, the program helped audiences discover and get to know chefs they might not have encountered otherwise.

Ahn also highlighted the show’s positive ripple effect on the broader dining industry. “Viewers were exposed to new foods, became interested in the culinary profession, and actually went out to dine and experience it for themselves,” he said. “For that, the food service industry is truly thankful.”

Culinary Class Wars pits underdog “black-spoon” chefs against celebrity “white-spoon” chefs in a class-based culinary showdown. Season 1 became the first variety show to top Netflix’s global non-English TV chart for three consecutive weeks and went on to win the grand prize at the Baeksang Arts Awards. Season 2 continued the momentum, ranking No. 1 for two weeks and staying in the global top 10 for four straight weeks.

Buoyed by the series’ success, Netflix has confirmed production of Season 3, slated for release in the fourth quarter of this year. While earlier seasons focused on head-to-head battles between individual chefs, the upcoming installment will shift the format to competitions between restaurants.

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